Police inspector booked for abetting suicide

In connection with the suicide by a labourer on Wednesday night, the government Railway Police on Friday booked a police inspector for abetting suicide.

Farman Masih, 55, a resident of Khehra village under the Kalanaur police station in Gurdaspur district, had ended his life by jumping before a train at Jantipur railway station in Amritsar district on Wednesday night. The relatives of Farman alleged that he had committed suicide as police inspector Vidya Sagar, posted in Batala, was harassing him.

The relatives alleged that Vidya Sagar had picked Farman's son Happy Masih on April 12 and sought money for his release. They claimed that since Farman was in no position to pay money, he ended his life.

Demanding registration of case against Vidya Sagar, the relatives of the victim staged a protest on Friday by placing his body on the Amritsar-Pathankot rail track. Batala SSP Tulsi Ram reached the spot and tried to pacify the protesters, but his efforts went in vain.

Soon, DIG (border range), Parampal Singh Umranangal reached the spot and constituted a three-member committee, comprising SSPs of Batala, Amritsar rural and railway, to probe the matter and ascertain the cause of suicide. The DIG said the committee would submit a report in 72 hours. The DIG also accepted their demand of registration of a case against Vidya Sagar, after which the protesters removed the body from the track around 2 pm. The GRP then booked Vidya Sagar under Section 306 of the IPC.

When contacted, Vidya Sagar said he was CIA incharge till April 15 only as he was transferred to counter intelligence wing on April 16 and was in no way involved in case registered against Farman's son.

SSP Tulsi Ram, however, said inspector Vidya Sagar was part of the team investigating the case registered against Farman's son Happy, though he expressed ignorance on registration of case against inspector Vidya Sagar by the GRP.